The Minerva Punjab academy graduate shone bright against Jordan in the tournament opener...

India registered a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Jordan in their opening match of the 5th WAFF U-16 Championship at the King Abdullah II Stadium in Jordan on Wednesday. Vikram Pratap Singh collected the match ball for netting a hat-trick (43', 61', 73') whereas Bekey Oram scored late (84') to heap more misery on Jordan.

It seemed to be a match between equals as both sides were unable to find the deadlock till late in the first-half. It was a training ground set-piece routine that India put to perfection to score the opener. Singh opted to go short and passed it to Ridge who sqaured it to Rohit Danu. The forward skipped past a defender to lay it off for Singh who buried it from close range.

Jordan came out all guns blazing after the break in search of the equaliser, but India's backline held their fort and weathered the storm to keep the slender lead in tact.

Against the run of play, Vikram scored his second to finish off a brilliant move initiated by Oram on the left. It was Danu once again who provided the assist as set the ball up on a platter for Singh to finish.

It was no turning back for the blue cubs after the second goal. They started to press higher up the field in search of their third to put the contest to bed. The high-press bore fruits when Jordanian goalkeeper mispassed the ball to Givson Singh who made no mistake to find his skipper with a lobbed delivery. Singh blasted it home from close range to complete his hat-trick.

Coach Bibiano Fernandes introduced a couple of fresh legs in form of Ravi Bahadur Rana and Sailo on the 75th minute at the expense of star performers Singh and Givson. The substitutes played a crucial role in building up the fourth goal of the night which was converted exquisitely by Oram on the 84th minute.

India managed to earn a clean sheet and all three points in their opening fixture, courtesy of outstanding performances on all ares of the pitch. They will face Japan next on August 3, 2018.